Building of telescoping and interlocking parts

ABSTRACT

A building which can be readily assembled in the field by unskilled labor without the use of nails, screws, bolts or the like, such assembly being provided for by telescoping and interlocking parts together with keys which hold the several parts of the building in assembled form.

United States Patent 1191 1111 3,802,134 McCorvey Apr. 9, 1974 [54] BUILDING OF TELESCOPING AND 2,359,304 10 1944 Davison 52/299 x INTERLOCKING PARTS 2,883,711 4/1959 Kump 52/299 X r 2,815,831 12/1957 Helt et al. 52/93 6] Inventor: y n S- c o y, O- Bo 1,228,327 5/1917 Kohler 52/499 40 l P i 5 Ga ark Tex 77547 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [22] led: 1972 1,012,818 l2/l965 Great Britain 52/509 [21] App]. No.: 318,103

, Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland I A 52 us. 01 52/93, 52/270, 52/274, Examme' A 52/28l,'52/299, 52/497, 52/498 51 1111. C1 E04b 7/02, E04b 2/32 [57] ABSTRfCT 5 Field f Search 52 270 93 271 509 494 A building which can be readily assembled 1n the field 52/497, 498, 499, 272,274, 281, 294, 296, 299 by unskilled labor without the use of nails, screws,

. bolts or the like, such assembly being provided for by 1 5 m- Cited telescoping and interlocking parts together with keys UNITED STATES PATENTS which hold the several parts of the building in assem- 3,420,016 1/1969 Fintlay.i 52/274 x bled form 3,738,083 6/1973 shimano 52 271 x 4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEUAPR 9 I874 SHEET 3 (IF 3 BUILDING OF TELESCOPING AND INTERLOCKING PARTS i This invention relates to buildings and more particularly to buildings of the type which can be assembled without the use of screws, bolts, nails or the like.

It is an object of this-invention to provide a building which may be assembled from studs, rafters, panels and the like and in which is not necessary to use any bolts, nails, screws or the like to fasten the several components of the building together.

Another object is to provide a prefabricated readily assembled building in which nails, screws, bolts or the like are not necessary to assemble the building and in which parts such as sill, studs, rafter, panels and the like may be fabricated from continuous production members cut to the desired length and in which these parts are held in assembled relationship by telescoping engagement with each other or with suitable brackets and latch and lock means are provided to latch and lock the parts together.

Other objects, features and advantages of the application will be apparent from the drawings, the specification and the claims,

In the drawings wherein like numerals represent like parts and wherein an illustrative embodiment of this invention is shown.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a building constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view along the lines 2-2of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view along the lines 33 of FlGnl; 7

FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are views along the lines 4-4, 5--5, and 6-6 respectively of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is an exploded view of a bracket and associated latch structure.

The building of this invention is preferably supported upon a foundation means such as shown in FIG. 3 at 11. The foundation means may be a plurality of blocks arranged about the perimeter of the buildingor it may be a continuous poured beam. In any event it is preferred that some means be utilized to raise the floor of the building above the surrounding earth and provide a level support for the building. If desired the foundation means may be omitted and the sills may rest directly i upon the ground. Preferably the foundation means is provided in its upper face with a latch means 12 which will support and lock the sills in the desired position.

A sill indicated generally at 13 extends about the periphery of the building and where foundation means 11 is employed has a mating surface on its lower face which mates with the surface 12 of the foundation to support the sill in the desired position. The sill is made up of a plurality of beams 14 of the cross-sectional configuration shown in FIG. 3. Preferably the beams are fabricated from a skin of metal filled with expanded plastic such as polyurethane. Where the design requires two or more sills in a straight run or requires corners, the sills are secured together in any desired manner. Preferably, a sleeve is telescoped over adjoining sills to provide a connector therebetween. Preferably the sleeve is of the same cross-sectional configuration as the sill and of a slightly larger size so that it will telescope over a pair of confronting sills or will form a corner between two adjacent sills such as the corner sleeve 15 shown in FIG. 6. It will be appreciated that the foundation 11 will serve to hold the several sills and their connecting sleeves in the desired position. Where the foundation is not used, any desired means maybe utilized to pintheseveral sill members and their connecting sleeves together if desired. The sills and their connecting sleeves are provided with an upwardly facing latch means whose purpose will more fully appear hereinafter.

The silllatch means may be an integral part of the sill or it may be secured to the sill in any desired manner. It is preferable that the latch means be partially provided by the sill and partially by additional members which may be supported upon the sill. For instance, in the illustrated embodiment the sill is provided with an upwardly facing groove 16. On the exterior side of the building a formed latch member 17 which has an upwardly facing groove 17a therein is supported on the sill and has a downturned groove 17b which mates with the upwardly extending flange 18 on the sill. In like manner there is an internal latch member 19 having an upwardly facing groove 19d and a downwardly facing groove 1% which cooperates with the upwardly facing flange 21 of the sill.

A plurality of structural ribs are provided which are latched to and held by the sill against movement normal to the sill. The ribs include the studs 22 having the cross-sectional configuration indicated in FIG. 6. At their lower ends the studs are provided with a flange or tongue 22a which extends into the groove 16 in the sill to latch the ribs against movement normal to the sill.

The ribs also include rafters 23 which preferably are of the same cross-sectional shape and size as the ribs 22. It is also preferred that the studs and rafters be fabricated of a skin of metal filled with expanded polyurethane. I Suitable brackets are provided to secure the studs to the rafters. The ribs on each side of the building will be connected to rafters running across the top of the building by corner brackets 24. These brackets are hollow sleeves which telescopically receive the studs and rafters. Preferably the brackets are formed on an angle as shown onFIG. 3 to give the desired pitch to the roof. The form of building shown employs a peak type roof and a peak bracket 25 is employed between confronting rafters 23. This bracket again telescopically receives the confronting rafters and is formed on the desired angle of pitch of the roof.

At the front and back of the building the studs 22 are telescopically received in boxes 26a carriedby sleeves 26 which slide over the rafter adjacent to the front and rear of the building (FIG. 4). These sleeves 26 are attached to the boxes 26a at the same angle as the angle of pitch of the roof. The studs will be of differing length to accommodate the spacing between the sill l3 and the rafter 23.

Preferably the studs and rafters as well as their connecting corner and peak brackets will have at least in their exterior surface grooves 22a and 230 respectively which cooperate with the exterior panels to latch the exterior panels and the studs in proper position (FIGS. 4 and 6). In this connection, it will be noted from FIG. 6 that two side by side studs are positioned in the upwardly extending latch groove 16, one on each side of the juncture of a corner. The studs in the position of stud 222 block movement of stud 22d due to the engagement of the tongue on the stud 22c in the groove 16. If desired a small key or block 30 may be placed between the stud 222 and the sleeve 15, that is, in the groove 16 to prevent movement of stud 22e towards the corner of the building but such is not necessary. Double studs of this nature are preferably employed at each corner of the building and this will prevent movement of the studs toward the corner of the building. As will hereinafter appear the panels will lock with the studs in a manner to prevent their movement in the other direction thus effectively locking all of the studs in the desired postion.

Each of the brackets employed is provided with latch means which cooperates with the latch means of other brackets and which cooperates with the latch means of the sill to fasten the exterior and roof panels in place.

Referring first to the corner bracket 24 there is shown therewith an associated latch member which cooperates with the comer bracket 24 to provide a latch means which looks downwardly and confronts the external latch means of the sill. Also, the bracket looks towards and confronts the latch means associated with the peak bracket. The corner bracket and latch means might be a single fabricated piece if desired. Preferably, the telescopic configuration of the corner bracket is a single fabrication and the additional configuration needed for latch purposes is attached thereto. In the illustrated embodiment, an elongated strip of metal is folded to the configuration as shown generally in crosssection at- 27.

The latch member 27 is preferably secured to the bracket 24 by having a downwardly extending button latch-member 270 which cooperates with the key shaped slot 28 in bracket 24 to latch these members together in the conventional way. The bracket 27 has a downturned extremity 27b which cooperates with the exterior vertical wall of bracket 24 to provide a downwardly facing slot 270. This slot 270 is immediately above and confronts the slot 17a of the sill latch structure. One of these pair of confronting slots, preferably slot 27c, is deeper than the other for a purpose which will appear below.

A plurality of panels are provided as the exterior wall of the building and one panel is preferably provided to bridge the distance between the grooves 22a in each of adjacent studs 22. Preferably, these panels are formed as shown at 29 of an inner and outer skin of metal filled with expanded polyurethane. The panels have at opposite sides latch configurations to latch the panels to each other and to the studs. On one side of each panel a U-shaped metallic latch member shown at 31 extends from the panel inwardly into the groove 22a of a stud. At the other side of the panela flange 32 extends into the U-shaped metallic latch member 31 and an overlapping flange or finger 33 overlaps the adjacent enlargement 34 on the adjacent panel. This constructionlatches the panels against movement horizontally to each other and to the studs so that neither panels nor studs may move along the sills.

The panels are shorter than the distance between the bottom of the deeper slot of the two confronting slots 17a and 270 and the exterior flange of the other slot. Preferably, the deeper slot is the upper bracket slot 270 and the panels are shorter than the distance between slot 270 and flange 17c. The panels are longer than the distance between the bottom of the shallower or lower slot 170 and the downturned flange 27b of the upper latch means. With this configuration, the panel may be assembled to the building by having its upper end inserted into the slot 27c until its lower end passes over the latch. means of the sill. It may then be lowered to rest in the slot 17a with the upper end of the panel still within the slot 270; that is, above the lowermost extremity of the downturn latch flange 27b.

The panels are held in place by a suitable lock means which prevents removal of the panel after it has been installed. This lock means is inserted in the space between the panel and the bottom of the deepest slot. In the illustrated embodiment the lock means 35 is inserted in the slot 28 above the panel 29. Lock means 35 is preferably provided by several elongated members which bridge several ribs. These are installed prior to installing the corner panels. After installing the corner panels the lock means 35 adjacent to the corner panels are shifted to overlie the corner panels and lock them and the adjacent panels in place.

As shown in FIG. 2 the corner panels 36 are especially fabricated at the desired right angle as viewed in cross-section and the two side extremities of the corner panels have the same latch mechanism as previously described in conjunction with the description of the panel 29. The corner panels 36 are only a few inches in width and thus the lock members 35 need only be shifted a few inches to lock the corner panels in place. These lock members are of course accessible from the interior of the building to readily shift them after the exterior panels have been placed on the building.

The roof panels and latching systems are handled in a manner similar to the panels and latching system for the side panels just explained. The bracket 27 includes a latch means provided by a U-shaped section 37 of the bracket 27. This provides a slot 38 for receiving roof panels. The roof panels are identical with the side panel 29.

The latch means for receiving the end of the panel remote from the bracket 27 may be provided by a latch structure associated with the peak bracket 25. In the illustrated form of the invention a generally T-shaped member indicated generally at 39 provides such latch structure. The cross of the T 39 will be angled slightly to conform to the pitch of the roof. The cross of the T includes upper legs 39a and 39b which cooperate with lower legs 390 and 3901 respectively to provide grooves 41 and 42. Groove 41 confronts the groove 38 provided by the corner bracket. Groove 42 in like manner confronts a like groove provided. by a corner bracket at the other side of the building (not shown). The standard 39e of the T" may be of any desired configuration, preferably it is provided only at intervals .which correspond with the spacing of the peak brackets 25 and extends through suitable passages left in the peak bracket as indicated in FIG. 3. If desired, suitable clips (not shown) may be attached to the exposed lower extremity of the standard 39e to lock it to the peak bracket. Clips would only be required where it desired that the building be able to withstand every heavy windloading. It is of course apparent that if desired any of the connections between the several components of the ribs could be latched against disassembly by providing suitable mating holes and pins to prevent disassembly without removal of the pins.

One of the two confronting grooves of the roof latch structure is deeper than the other so that the roof panels may be inserted in the manner previously explained in conjunction with the side panels. Preferably, this is the groove at the peak of the roof. The length relationships of the panels relative to the confronting grooves is the same as previously explained with regard to the side panels sothat a panel may be projected into the peak latch structure and then movedownwardly and inwardly into the groove 38 of the corner latch structure. As shown .in FIG. 3 the confronting grooves will then overlap the panel to hold the panel in place.

Suitable latch members 43 are inserted in the grooves 41, 42 between the peak latch structure and the ends of the roof panels 44 to lock the panels in place. Preferably the rafters 23 will have in their upper surfaces the grooves 23a (FIG. 4) previously described in conjunction with the panels 29, to furtherlatch the roof panels to the ribs.

The gable trim is illustrated in FIG. 4. As previously explained, the generally rectangular sleeve 26 which is associated with each stud at the front and rear of the building, has attached to the side of the sleeve a downwardly opening box member 26a in which the stud 22 is received. Attached to this sleeve and/or box member by any desired means, such as the fastening means shown in F IG. 7,is an elongated gable trim latch member formed in the cross-sectional configuration illus trated generally at 45. The downturned extremity or flange-like member 46 provides with the adjacent edge of the box 26a a groove 47 which opens in a downwardly direction. The groove 47 receives the panels 29 forming the front and rear walls and provides for lock ing them in place by use of a lock member 48 in the mannerpreviously explained. The gable trim includes a horizontally extending flange portion 49 for receiving the special roof panel 51. Panel 51 extends under the flange 49 and has the downturned latch portion 52 to latch with the adjacent roof panel 44. The gable trim is fabricated of sheet metal and the finger 49 will spring slightly to permit insertion of the special panel 51 and then return to the position shown in FIG.4.

Floor joist 53 may be extended at suitable intervals between opposite sections of the sill 13. Floor panels 54 may be supported upon the joist- 53.

Where internal walls are desired an upwardly opening floor latch member or clip 55 is provided between adjacent floor sections. This clip 55 when installed and supporting the wall panels 56 therein will have the appearance of floor molding. I

The side walls may include. internal finished panels 57 supported in the groove 19a of the sill. latch means. The upper end of the panels is held in position by a ceiling molding indicated v generally at 58. This ceiling molding has a downwardly facing groove 59 for receiving the upper end of the wall panel. The ceiling molding may be attached in any desired manner to the studs 22 preferably by a latching system such asshown in FIG. 7.

Ceiling panels 61 extend between the wall molding 58 and a similar wall molding 62 supported upon the internal wall 58 (FIG. 3).

As shown in FIG. 2, suitable window panes 63 preferably of double pane construction, are provided in the internal and external panels at desired positions. Also as shown in FIG. 2, the internal wall panels may have outturned flanges 57a at their side extremities to latch with the grooves in the studs to hold the panels in the desired position.

It will also be apparent that if desired the internal wall 56 may be fastened to the external wall by a suitable clip 64 having a tongue extending into the space between adjacent wall panels 57 and a groove for receiving the vertical side of panel 56.

7 the studs and rafters may be identical and may be pro duced by continuous method and cut into the desired length. The same is true of the exterior wall panels and of the internal wall panels. The roof and wall panels may be identical to further simplify the structure. By

providing structural members as well as panels of polyurethane covered with a skin of metal the product may be very strong while at the same time. being very light. This permits the use of rafters of substantial dimension.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention are illustrative and explanatory thereof and various changes in the size, shape and materials, as well 7 as in the details of the illustrated construction, may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: i

l. A building comprising,

a sill extending about-the periphery of the building and having an upwardly facing latch means,

said sill comprising a plurality of members telescoped together to provide an integrated base,

a plurality of structural ribs latched to and held by the sill against movement nonnal to the sill,

said ribs comprising studs and rafters telescoped with brackets therebetween,

said brackets having latch means,

the latch means of the sill and brackets at the top of the studs and the latch means on opposite ends of a rafter providing confronting slots with one of each pair of confronting slots being deeper than the other,

exterior panels held between said slots,

said panels shorter than thedistance between the bottom of the deepest slot and the exterior edge of the other of a pair of confronting slots,

said panels longer than the distance between the bottom of the shallower slot and the exterior edge of the other of said pair of confronting slots, and

removable lock means in one of each pair of confronting slots between the panel and bottom of the slot preventing removal of the panel.

2. A building comprising,

peripheral foundation means to having an upwardly facing latch means,

a sill extending about the periphery of the building and latched to the foundation means,

said sill having an upwardly facing latch means and comprising a plurality of members telescoped together to provide an integrated base,

a plurality of structural ribs latched to and held by the sill against movement normal to the sill,

said ribs comprising studs and rafters telescoped with brackets therebetween,

said studs and rafters having latch means at least on the side looking to the exterior of the building,

each of said brackets having latch means,

the latch means of the sill and bracket at the top of the studs and the latch means on opposite ends of a rafter providing confronting slots with one of each pair of confronting slots being deeper than the other, 7

exterior panels held between said slots,

said panels shorter than the distance between the bottom of the deepest slot and the exterior edge of the other of a pair of confronting slots, I

said panels longer than the distance between the bot tom of the shallower slot and the exterior edge of the other of said pair of confronting slots,

said panels having latch means along their side edges cooperable with the latch means along the studs and rafters to latch the panels thereto,

an elongated removable lock means in one of each pair of confronting slots between the panel and bottom of the slot preventing removal of the panel.

3. The building of claim 2 wherein the means providing the confronting slot of the sill latch means is separate from the sill andis held in place by latching of the ribs to the sill, and

wherein the confronting slots of the other latch means are provided at least in part by means releasably secured to the ribs.

4. The building of claim 2 wherein interior panels are held between confronting slots provided by the sill latch means and a ceiling molding which is releasably secured to the ribs,

and each side edge of an interior panel has latch means cooperable with complementary latch means in the inner surfaces of the studs. 

1. A building comprisinG, a sill extending about the periphery of the building and having an upwardly facing latch means, said sill comprising a plurality of members telescoped together to provide an integrated base, a plurality of structural ribs latched to and held by the sill against movement normal to the sill, said ribs comprising studs and rafters telescoped with brackets therebetween, said brackets having latch means, the latch means of the sill and brackets at the top of the studs and the latch means on opposite ends of a rafter providing confronting slots with one of each pair of confronting slots being deeper than the other, exterior panels held between said slots, said panels shorter than the distance between the bottom of the deepest slot and the exterior edge of the other of a pair of confronting slots, said panels longer than the distance between the bottom of the shallower slot and the exterior edge of the other of said pair of confronting slots, and removable lock means in one of each pair of confronting slots between the panel and bottom of the slot preventing removal of the panel.
 2. A building comprising, peripheral foundation means to having an upwardly facing latch means, a sill extending about the periphery of the building and latched to the foundation means, said sill having an upwardly facing latch means and comprising a plurality of members telescoped together to provide an integrated base, a plurality of structural ribs latched to and held by the sill against movement normal to the sill, said ribs comprising studs and rafters telescoped with brackets therebetween, said studs and rafters having latch means at least on the side looking to the exterior of the building, each of said brackets having latch means, the latch means of the sill and bracket at the top of the studs and the latch means on opposite ends of a rafter providing confronting slots with one of each pair of confronting slots being deeper than the other, exterior panels held between said slots, said panels shorter than the distance between the bottom of the deepest slot and the exterior edge of the other of a pair of confronting slots, said panels longer than the distance between the bottom of the shallower slot and the exterior edge of the other of said pair of confronting slots, said panels having latch means along their side edges cooperable with the latch means along the studs and rafters to latch the panels thereto, an elongated removable lock means in one of each pair of confronting slots between the panel and bottom of the slot preventing removal of the panel.
 3. The building of claim 2 wherein the means providing the confronting slot of the sill latch means is separate from the sill and is held in place by latching of the ribs to the sill, and wherein the confronting slots of the other latch means are provided at least in part by means releasably secured to the ribs.
 4. The building of claim 2 wherein interior panels are held between confronting slots provided by the sill latch means and a ceiling molding which is releasably secured to the ribs, and each side edge of an interior panel has latch means cooperable with complementary latch means in the inner surfaces of the studs. 